Sprint Starts Selling Palm Pixi

Sprint today started selling the second webOS based phone from Palm. The new Palm Pixi is available on Sprint for $99.99 with two-year contract and after $100 mail-in rebate. The phone comes with 2.63-inch (320x400) touchscreen, 2-megapixel camera, Dual-band CDMA2000, EVDO Rev A, Bluetooth, GPS and 8GB of onboard memory.
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Benchmarks Show Significant Performance Boost on Core i5 and i7 iMacs

Last week, Apple started shipping the new 27-inch iMac based on Intel’s Core i5 and Core i7 processors, and various websites have posted benchmarking results for the 2.8GHz Core i7 iMac and 2.66GHz Core i5 iMac. Timon Royer’s blog has posted Geekbench 2 benchmark results for all four processor configurations available for iMac.
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ICD Announces 15-inch Vega Tablet Based on Android 2.0

nnovative Converged Devices (ICD) has announced new Vega tablet that will feature a 15.6-inch 1366 x 768 resistive touchscreen. The Android 2.0 based device will have NVIDIA Tegra chipset, 512MB RAM, 512MB NAND flash, microSD card slot, 1.3-megapixel webcam, dual digital microphone, ambient light sensor, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth and 3G network support.
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AT&T Issues a Letter to Customers to Set the Record Straight on Verizon Ads

Verizon ads are definitely cause lot of trouble for AT&T. The company today issued a letter to its customers clarifying details about its 3G network. The letter tilted “AT&T Sets the Record Straight on Verizon Ads” says:

To Our Customers:
As the U.S Market leader in wireless data service, we typically don’t respond to competitors’ advertising. However, some recent ads from Verizon are so blatantly false and misleading, that we want to set the record straight about AT&T’s wireless data coverage.

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Dell Officially Announces Mini 3 Smartphone

Dell today officially entered the smartphone race with the new Mini 3 handset. Dell has partnered up with China Mobile and Claro to launch the phone in China and Brazil. The Mini 3 smartphones are designed around the Google Android platform to deliver power, flexibility and customization opportunities for both users and carrier, according to Dell.
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Battery Life Comparison: Windows 7 Vs. XP

Few days back, we posted results of benchmarking tests done by PC Mag on Windows 7, Vista and XP. Results were equally divided between Windows 7 and XP in the six tests, as Windows 7 came on top in 3 and XP won 3. Vista didn’t win a single test. All the tests done by PC Mag were performance based and none measured the impact of the OS on the battery life. Well, now many tech websites have posted battery life comparison between XP and Windows 7. And the results are unanimous, XP trounces Windows 7 in every battery life test.
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Apple Files Patent For Improved Pen Aware Computer Systems

Pen based computing has largely been a niche market, but it looks like Apple plans to bring pen based computing to the mainstream, like it brought mp3 player with iPod and touchscreen with iPhone. In a patent application filed by Apple titled “Method and Apparatus for Acquiring and Organizing Ink Information in Pen-aware Computer Systems”, the company talks about methods that can be used to improve accuracy of pen-based inputs. Apple says that the pen-based input methods used today are inadequate for many users.
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Microsoft Now Says: Mac OS X Didn’t Inspire Windows 7

Yesterday, we wrote that Microsoft’s partner group manager Simon Aldous said “One of the things that people say an awful lot about the Apple Mac is that the OS is fantastic, that it’s very graphical and easy to use. What we’ve tried to do with Windows 7 – whether it’s traditional format or in a touch format – is create a Mac look and feel in terms of graphics.”
Well the above statement would have definitely annoyed Ballmer and hence company today disowned Simon by calling him ‘uninformed’ and ‘inaccurate’. Brandon LeBlanc posted on Microsoft’s Windows Blog:
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AMD Reveals Its Processor Roadmap

AMD will start 2010 with introduction of their new Danube –mainstream notebook platform, and Nile – the third generation of AMD’s ultra-thin notebook platform. Both the platforms will be designed to give more than seven hours of battery life. Danube will bring AMD’s first quad-core mobile processor almost one year after Intel introduced its quad-core mobile processors.
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Performance Comparison: Windows 7 vs. XP

PC Mag has posted results of benchmarking tests they ran on Windows 7, XP and Vista. The website used a 1.73GHz Toshiba Satellite m45-S269 laptop with 1GB RAM and 100GB hard drive for the tests. PC Mag compared Startup and Shutdown time, Picasa video encoding time and results of benchmarking tools including Geekbench, SunSpider and PCMark05 for the three operating systems.
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Microsoft Executive: With Windows 7 We Created a Mac Look and Feel in terms of Graphical User Interface

If you have used both Mac OS X and Windows 7, you can clearly see that Windows OS was inspired by Mac’s user interface. And, now Microsoft executives are also accepting the fact. In an interview with PCR, Microsoft’s partner group manager, Simon Aldous said:

“One of the things that people say an awful lot about the Apple Mac is that the OS is fantastic, that it’s very graphical and easy to use."

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Apple iPhone News Roundup

According to Strategy Analytics, Apple became the world’s most profitable handset maker in third quarter of 2009 surpassing Nokia. Apple’s operating profit from sale of iPhone came in at $1.6 billion in Q3 2009 compared to total operating profit of $1.1 billion reported by Nokia. This means that two iPhone models, iPhone 3G and 3GS generated more profit for Apple than the total profit Nokia achieved by selling over 100 different handset models.
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AT&T Says to Verizon: “There’s a misrepresentation for that”

Yesterday, we reported that Verizon’s ad campaign showcasing poor 3G coverage offered by AT&T has improved Verizon’s brand perception. And, AT&T is not happy about that. So the company has published information that shows Verizon isn’t telling the whole story. In the publication titled ‘There’s a misrepresentation for that’, AT&T says:
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Ricoh Officially Releases Details About Upcoming GXR Camera

Yesterday, information about the new GXR system from Ricoh was leaked, and today, Ricoh came out clean and provided complete details about the new camera system. The new GXR system offers interchangeable slide mount ‘lens units’ – sealed modules containing both optics and sensor, meaning it can switch from a large (APS-C) 12-megapixel CMOS sensor with fast prime lens to a tiny 10-megapixel CCD sensor with 24-70mm lens. Ricoh claims that the GXR system based cameras are the world’s smallest and lightest digital camera with the ability to change lenses.
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Analyst: Verizon Sold 100,000 Motorola DROID in First Weekend

Broadpoint AmTech Analyst Mark McKechnie estimates that 100,000 Motorola DROID phones were sold on the launch weekend. According to Mark, Verizon had 200,000 DROID phone on hand, and most stores sold at least half of their stock. He says by end of 2009 Motorola will sell 1 million Google Android based phones and the number will reach 10 million in 2010.
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Verizon’s Ad Campaign Improving Its Brand Perception Compared to AT&T

Verizon released three new ads showcasing poor 3G coverage offered by AT&T, even though, AT&T has filed a lawsuit against Verizon for airing misleading ad campaign. According to survey done by YouGov, the risk that Verizon it taking by airing these commercials is paying off big time.
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Apple Releases Mac OS X 10.6.2 Update

Apple today released Mac OS X 10.6.2 update for Snow Leopard that resolves the problem of disappearing admin account when a user log into a guest account and then logs back into admin account. Apple says the update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Snow Leopard and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac, including fixes for:
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Verizon DROID Launch – More Like Palm Pre Than iPhone

Everything was right about DROID launch – the media buzz, the marketing campaign, but the launch fell shorter than Verizon’s expectations. Verizon was hoping that this amount of press coverage would guarantee an iPhone like launch-fest. What Verizon got instead was few people waiting in line for the new Motorola DROID handset at the launch.
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Dell Developed Adamo XPS Prototypes with LCD TrackPad and Touch Sensitive Keyboard

Yesterday, Dell released their new Adamo XPS world’s thinnest laptop. And today PC World has posted images of various prototypes Dell played with before releasing the 0.4-inch thick Adamo XPS. According to Dell, their mission was to push the design envelope with a stylish leadership product.
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Windows 7 Launch Increased Software Box Sales by 234 Percent, But Hardware Sales saw Just 49 Percent Increase

According to NPD’s weekly tracking service, Windows 7 software unit sales in the US were 234 percent higher than Vista’s first few days of sales. However, revenue growth wasn’t as strong as Vista release. Also PC hardware sales showed only a modest increase at 49 percent in year-over-year sales and 95 percent over the week prior to launch. Vista on the other hand had 68 percent rise in sales over the prior year and 170 percent over the week preceding the launch.
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Review Roundup: Motorola DROID by Verizon

Verizon’s Motorola DROID is coming to the market on November 6th, 2009. The Android 2.0 based phone features 3.7-inch (480 x 854) touchscreen, 5-megapixel camera, dual LED flash, CDMA 1X 800/1900, EVDO Rev. A, WiFi, Bluetooth, aGPS and microSD card slot (16GB card included). The DROID measures 2.4” x 4.6” x 0.5” and weighs 6 ounces. Battery life on the phone is 385 minutes of talk time and 270 hours of standby.
We have added links to 10 best Motorola DROID reviews available online:
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Dell Officially Releases World’s Thinnest Laptop Adamo XPS

Dell today introduced world’s thinnest laptop Adamo XPS that is just 9.99mm (0.4-inch) thick. To open the new laptop you have to swipe your finger over a heat sensitive touch strip, which unlocks the laptop and reveals the keyboard. To achieve the 0.4-inch thickness Dell tucked most of the computer components behind the display and designed a unique hinge mechanism.
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Microsoft Courier User Interface Revealed

Gizmodo has posted detailed information revealing user interface of upcoming Microsoft Courier. The basic finger gestures are almost same as the once used to control the iPhone interface, but things get interesting with the concept of Infinite Journal. The journal is an endless notebook for writing, drawing, storing scrapbook like content and sharing notes with other people.
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Apple Announces Over 100,000 Apps Now Available on the App Store

Apple today announced that developers have created over 100,000 apps for the revolutionary App Store, the largest applications store in the world. App Store users have downloaded well over two billion apps, continuing to make it the world’s most popular applications store.
“The App Store, now with over 100,000 applications available, is clearly a major differentiator for millions of iPhone and iPod touch customers around the world,” said Philip Schiller.
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Windows 7 Affected by 8 Out of 10 Viruses

Microsoft claims that Windows 7 is the most secure operating system ever. However, results from recent tests done by security research firm Sophos contradicts Microsoft’s claim. Sophoslabs loaded a full release copy of Windows 7 on a clean machine, configured it to follow the system defaults for User Account Control (UAC) and did not load any anti virus software, to test how secure Windows 7 really is.
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Only 5,000 iPhones Sold in China Since Launch Last Friday

China Unicom’s Chairman Chang Xiobing told reporters that the company signed up only 5,000 iPhone users since official launch last Friday. However, the Chairman remained upbeat about the iPhone and said that the iPhone would boost China Unicom’s revenue for fourth quarter, although the company will see increased costs due to advertising and other expenses related to iPhone launch.
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PC Shipment Sees 40 Percent Jump in First Week of Windows 7

Morgan Stanley’s analyst Katheryn Huberty said in her investment note that Windows 7 launch triggered a spike in PC sales during last week of October. She based her conclusion on recent data released by NPD group showing about 40 percent jump in PC sales during the week of Windows 7 launch compared to same time last year.
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Sony Ericsson Unveils Their First Android Phone XPERIA X10

Sony Ericsson launched their new smartphone XPERIA X10 based on Google Android platform. The launch of the new handset brings along a new “user experience platform” according to Sony. The phone is based on Android 1.6 and not on recently released Android 2.0, also Sony hasn’t made much changes to the OS except the new custom skin and two key applications Timescape and Mediascape.
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Apple Plans to Introduce $30-per-month iTunes TV Subscriptions Service

All Things Digital’s Peter Kafka is reporting that Apple is pitching a monthly subscription service to TV networks, which would deliver TV programs via iTunes for $30 monthly fee. The service will be an extension of iTunes software allowing users to view shows on all Apple devices like the iPhone, iPod and Apple TV.
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Mac Market Share Continues to Grow Even After Windows 7 Launch

Apple has doubled its OS market share in past three years, and most analysts were hoping that at least in the month of Windows 7 launch Mac’s rise in market share would be stopped. But the latest data from Net Applications show that Mac OS X market share grew by 2.73 percent in October, from 5.12 percent to 5.26 percent. Windows share fell slightly from 92.77 percent to 92.54 percent.
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Review Roundup: Apple MacBook (Late 2009)

Apple updated its white MacBook with a new, durable polycarbonate unibody design featuring a brilliant LED backlit display, a glass multitouch trackpad and built-in battery for up to seven hours of battery life. The new MacBook is lighter at 4.7 pounds and feature a unique non-skid bottom surface. It comes with 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB DDR3 RAM, 250GB hard drive, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics, DVD burner, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth and iSight video camera for $999.
We have added links to eight best reviews available online below:
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Review Roundup: Apple iMac (Late 2009)

Apple launched their new iMac models featuring brilliant LED backlit 21.5 and 27 –inch widescreen displays on October 20, 2009. Four iMac configurations are available including $1,199 model with 21.5-inch 1080p screen, 3.06GHz processor, 500GB hard drive and NVIDIA Geforce 9400M graphics; a $1,499 21.5-inch model with bigger 1TB hard drive and 256MB ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics; $1,699 model that features bigger 27-inch screen with 2560 x 1440 resolution; and top-of-the-line 27-inch model with quad core 2.66GHz Core i5 processor and 512MB ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics for $1,999.
Below, we have added links to 8 best iMac reviews available online:
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Apple Executives are not Very Enthusiastic About Print Media for the Tablet

Analyst Mike Abramsky recently spoke with various Apple executives including chief financial officer, Peter Oppenheimer; VP of iTunes and Internet services, Eddy Cue and VP of worldwide Mac marketing, David Moody. After talking to the executives Mike wrote in his research note that Apple officials believe “Video content is expected to be the next ‘exploding’ opportunity, but requires overcoming industry rights dysfunctionality, competing with other subsidies, and developing the right consumer offer.”
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ReVolt Introduces New Rechargeable Zinc-Air Batteries

ReVolt and SINTEF group in Norway have developed a new rechargeable zinc-air battery that needs oxygen to generate current. Non-rechargeable zinc-air batteries have been available for sometime now, but development of rechargeable version has been difficult. The rechargeable zinc-air battery consists of air electrode, a zinc electrode, and an electrolyte all set in a casing that lets in air.
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iPhone Launched in China and Apple’s Worldwide Cellphone Market Share Climbs to 2.5 Percent

Apple and China Unicom today officially launched the iPhone in China at 6:30 PM local time. More than 300 people stood in line to get their hands on the iPhone. The phone was launched after a ceremony at China Unicom’s flagship store, which was attended by Apple’s VP Greg Joswiak.
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Apple Files Patent Application for Wireless Headset with Integrated Media Player

Apple filed a patent application describing a wireless headset with integrated media player. The wireless headset will be configurable with one or two earpieces. And it would not only connect to your iPhone (possibly via Bluetooth), but also feature an integrated memory for direct MP3 playback. The microphone on the headset would allow you to talk on phone, make audio notes and operate the device via voice commands.
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Apple Introduces Apple TV 3.0 Software

Apple today introduced new Apple TV 3.0 software featuring a redesigned main menu that makes navigating your favorite content simpler and faster, and makes enjoying the largest selection of on-demand HD movie rentals and purchases, HD TV shows, music and podcasts from the iTunes Store even better on your TV. You can now enjoy iTunes Extras and iTunes LP in stunning fullscreen with your Apple TV, as well as listen to Genius Mixes and Internet radio through your home theater system.
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Intel Develops Phase Change Memory and Switch Technology to Replace NAND Flash

Intel and Numonyx have developed new memory technology that will enable non-volatile memory to break through NAND’s 20nm barrier and scale down to process sizes as tiny as 5nm cost effectively. The new memory technology is and advancement of phase change memory (PCM) called phase change memory and switch (PCMS).
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Apple Engineers Taking Numerous Trips to Manufacturing Plants in China for a New Product

Business Insider is reporting that many Apple engineers have been taking numerous trips to China and are visiting manufacturing plants in China where the yet unannounced Apple Tablet will be manufactured.
“A source tells us a system integration engineer friend of his at Apple has ramping up his travels back and forth between China lately, broadcasting word of his travels over the Internet,” said the report. “There’s even a few weeks scheduled during the Christmas holiday season.”
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Verizon Unveils Motorola DROID, Shipping November 6th

Verizon today unveiled DROID by Motorola, the first smartphone powered by Android 2.0. Motorola claims that DROID is the thinnest full-QWERTY slider phone available on the market. Hardware specification of the phone are 3.7-inch WVGA touchscreen, 5-megapixel camera with dual LED flash, video recording at 720 x 480 resolution, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and microSD card slot. The phone has very less on-board memory, but Motorola includes 16GB memory card with the phone.
Read More and Watch DROID in Action

Google Launches Free Turn-by-Turn Navigation App for Android 2.0

Google today launched updated Maps software for Android 2.0 that includes free beta turn-by-turn navigation. The navigation software provides voice commands, integration with satellite and street view and various point-of-interest. You can save select addresses as icons on Android home screen and use them directly for turn-by-turn navigation.
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Apple Talking to Media Companies in Australia

It was reported that Apple has been talking with media outlets in US to provide content on its upcoming tablet. Now Australian news website Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that “Apple has sent specifications of the device to Australian media companies in an effort to sound out whether they would be interested in delivering their content to the tablet. None would speak about the device on the record.”
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Verizon: Bringing the iPhone to Verizon is Entirely Apple’s Call

Talking at earnings conference call, Verizon’s CEO, Ivan Seidenberg said that the carrier would be happy to have iPhone on its network, but its Apple’s decision.

“This is a decision that is exclusively in Apple’s court,” Seidenberg said. “Obviously we would be interested if they thought it would make sense for them to have us as a partner. And so we will leave it with them on that score…."

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Sprint to Ship Palm Pixi on November 15 for $99.99

Sprint today announced that Palm Pixi would be available exclusively on their network starting November 15th. Pixi is the second webOS based phone from Palm and it will be priced $99.99 with a two-year service agreement, after a $50 instant rebate and $100 mail-in rebate.
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Next Generation MacBook Pro to Feature Quad-Core Processor

Applesfera has posted a plist file found in Mac OS X 10.6.2 build 10C531, which was released to the developers last week. The plist file includes list of computers supported by upcoming Mac OS X 10.6.2 update. Most of the computers on the list are available right now, but two MacBook Pro models MacBook Pro 6,1 and MacBook Pro 6,2 mentioned on the list have not been released yet.
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NY Times Executive Talks About Apple Slate and New SIM Tray Design Hints at Upcoming Apple Device

New York Times’ Executive Editor, Bill Keller, accidentally talked about upcoming Apple tablet at the NY Times’ Internal Neiman Journalism Lab. He was talking about future of print media and he said:

“I’m hoping we can get the newsroom more actively involved in the challenge of delivering our best journalism in the form of Times Reader, iPhone apps, WAP or the impending Apple slate, or whatever comes after that…”

Read More and Watch the Video

iPhone Continues to Boost AT&T, But Exclusivity Might End Soon

AT&T today reported stronger than expected profit for third quarter of 2009. AT&T’s revenue was down 1.6 percent to $30.9 billion, but the company earned $3.2 billion profit. AT&T’s profit remained high, even though their enterprise and landline revenue declined by 10.4 percent and 7 percent respectively. iPhone was one of the main contributors with 3.2 million new iPhone activations, which helped AT&T attract 2 million new customers.
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Review Roundup: Microsoft Windows 7

After the Windows Vista debacle, Microsoft today launched their next generation OS called Windows 7. According to Microsoft, Windows 7 is Vista, only better. The company says that hundreds of its engineers and designers have worked with customers and partners to build an OS that delivers on the vision of the PC, simplified.

Windows 7 has received many positive reviews and most reviewers agree that Windows 7 will help Microsoft bury the memories of Vista. We completely agree with David Pogue’s conclusion “Now, Windows 7 is still Windows. It’s still copy-protected, it still requires antivirus software and its visuals still aren’t consistent from one corner to another. On the other hand, it’s still Windows in a good way, too, meaning that it’s your ticket to a world of choice – a huge catalog of software and computer options. This Win is a win if you’re in the market for a new machine, or of you’re running Vista now and you’re not thrilled by it. Above all Windows 7 means that Microsoft employees can show up in public without avoiding eye contact. Look like 7 is a lucky number after all.”

We have added links to 10 best Windows 7 reviews available online:

• Wall Street Journal – Review By: Walt Mossberg


• NY Times – Review By: David Pogue


• USA Today – Review By: Edward Baig


• CNET – Review By: Seth Rosenblatt


• Engadget – Review By: Paul Miller


• PC World – Review By: Harry McCracken


• Gizmodo – Review By: Matt Buchanan


• Maximum PC – Review By: Will Smith


• Guardian – Review By: Jack Schofield


• PC Mag – Review By: Michael Muchmore and Jeremy Kaplan

[Via TechzTalk]

Apple Introduces MacBook with New Polycarbonate Unibody Design and LED-Backlit Display

Apple today updated its popular MacBook with a new, durable polycarbonate unibody design featuring a brilliant LED-backlit display, a glass Multi-Touch trackpad and Apple’s innovative built-in battery for up to seven hours of battery life. Inheriting technology and design features from the MacBook Pro line.
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Apple Unveils New iMac with 21.5 and 27-inch LED Backlit Displays

Apple today unveiled an all new iMac line featuring brilliant LED-backlit 21.5 and 27-inch widescreen displays in a new edge-to-edge glass design and seamless all aluminum enclosure. The new iMac line is the fastest ever with Intel Core 2 Duo processors starting at 3.06 GHz, and Core i5 and i7 quad-core processors for up to twice the performance. Every new iMac ships with a wireless keyboard and the all new wireless Magic Mouse, the world’s first mouse with Multi-Touch™ technology.
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